Shooting organisations have welcomed the Association of Chief Police Officers’ announcement that a dedicated Crimestoppers phone line for firearms offences has been shelved.
Labelled the ‘shop a shooter’ hotline, the Crimestoppers number came under fire for making it easier for antis to disrupt legitimate shooting activities.
And the phone line was announced at the same time as a new scheme of home visits to check firearms security – leading to accusations of slipping in the new service ‘under the radar’.
On the announcement that plans for the hotline would no longer go ahead, BASC chief executive Richard Ali said: “We welcome this common-sense decision from ACPO. BASC, in common with other organisations, said that the dedicated Crimestoppers line was unnecessary. The decision will allow the police to better focus their resources and reduces the possibility of false and malicious reporting against lawful firearms owners.”
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